288 PETER SPENCE 



diligent Justice of the Peace, also a director 

 of the Mechanics' Institution (now the 

 Technical School). In fact, Peter Spence 

 took a keen interest in all public movements : 

 in politics he was an advanced Liberal ; in 

 Church polity a Nonconformist ; a Parlia- 

 mentary position was offered him, but this he 

 declined. 



Although he inherited a delicate constitu- 

 tion, with a tendency to consumption, yet his 

 habits through life were so rational, and the 

 measures he took to preserve his health so 

 wise, that he enjoyed excellent health, and 

 was, after he had passed three score years and 

 ten, a picture of happy, bright, vigorous old age. 

 Although short in stature, his appearance 

 was most attractive, there was always the 

 flash of speculation in his eye, and a beaming, 

 hopeful expression on his countenance. 



The death of his wife, in February, 1883, 

 was a blow from which he could not rally. 

 Without any attack of disease, his strength 

 gradually failed, until on the 5th July, the 

 same year, he passed peacefully to his rest, 

 at the age of seventy-eight. 



He was another illustrious example of men 

 who have climbed the ladder of success from 

 very insignificant beginnings, who have shown 



